Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 (IANS) Fifteenth Finance Commission Chairman N.K. Singh on Wednesday said that though Odisha had achieved a higher growth rate, it often remained significantly volatile.

He said Odisha had the unique challenges of high poverty and low per capita income.

In order to maintain a higher growth trajectory, the state had to act for poverty eradication initiatives and had to go a long way to raise per capita income, said Singh.

He said Odisha had made significant progress in reducing poverty although poverty numbers were still higher than the national average.

Singh said the state had to work on health, education and agriculture for accelerating growth. The Commission, however, lauded overall financial management of the state and disaster management.

--IANS cd/mr